Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-19
THE TEXAS ELECTION OurrR AGES.
Testimony Before the Senate Sub.Com.
mittee TO-DaY.

The Texas investigation was resumed to-day
Joseph Hoffman,. white republican, assessor of
washington county, who testified yesterday after
noon that he had been ordered to leave the county,
was recalled, and he gave the names Of leading
active republcansin in Washington county, Witness
heard nearly all the republican speeches made and
none Of them were violent or insurrectionary;
heard Judge Kirk democrat in public speech
say that Judge Mcfarland (republican) divided his
court room and made the negroes sit on one side
to themselves, but that he {Kirk), democrat,
treated both races alike In his court ROOM
MUST LEAVE OR BE HANGED.
Mr.. r. P. Hackworth, White and republican,
was the next witness; was born and raised In
washington county; is a justice of the peace:
heard OF the hanging Of the three negroes and he
held the inquest over the bodies; he understood
publicans just following the election last Novem-
Der; witness was advised by democratic friends
from the county for a few days: witness had re-
ceived written notices directing him to leave.
His, HIS ;, brother left early in December: His
would be hung. A democratic friend OF
witness came to him and told him that his brother
must not remain In Benham "nary mother night" ;"
II he did he would be hanged. His brother did not
want to leave just then but after inquiry it was
deemed best for him to do so. There was O crowd
at the depot ana G witness believed that his brother
the peace, witness held the inquest upon the
hanged negroes; two OF the jury examined wit
nesses very closely. and they were admonished
that the inquest be closed, saying they
were afraid to continue 1t. On crOss-examination,
witness said the only threats against him were in
Two written notices he received. Friends advised
witness to take his family away, as there was
danger OF persons firing into his house. There
have Oeen numerous republican Otfice-hOlders in
the county, but none were ever mOleSted before
Witness attributed the threats to a desire on the
part of democrats to frighten republicans and pre-
vent them from cOntesting the election. There
was great excitement prevailing. One white man
brother was threatened because he was a leading
republican and advised republicans to contest.
Witness heard OF no threats by republicans.
TEXAS JOKE.
Paul Frecke, white, aged thirty y-six, native of
Washington county and lifelong republican,
was called: Knows Hackworth, Schultze and
Moore, the memoI1alists to the Senate; the county
was republican up to TWO years ago. Fifty men
told witness they had been warned not to talk
with republicans. There were democrats who
wanted TO get up muttny to denounce the
outrages upon the ballot box and repubn-
said he was prominent Aia and H. active s'DTe. re-
publican, and admitted that no threats were
made against him. HackwOrth who was driven
away, he said, was the leader OF the colored ele-
ment. Many notices TO leave were sent to citizens
Judge Kirk, democrat and county judge, re-
ceived written notice charging him with having
melted all the trouble, and advising him to leave
II he would avoid being killed. It was charged
Offset to those that had been sent TO republicans.
Witness said the letter OF warning to Judge Kirk
was regarded as joke; none OF the republicans
Mr.: w. L. Williams, one OF the witnesses In the
Texas investigation, says he did not object to the
throwing out OF the diamOnd-shaped ballots, as
reported, as he was not an officer OF the election,
but he expressed the opinion that the ballots were
legal.